Bird Walks:
First-of-Month Bird Walks
Bird Walks are meant to be a casual, local morning of birding. They are a great time to enjoy birds with others and find new areas to visit. You can work on bird identification by sight and sound. It’s also an opportunity to practice your eBird app with help when needed. These walks are easy to join or leave at any time during the morning. You don’t have to commit to the entire walk if you have limited time. All are welcome!
Date: Friday, May 1st, 2026
Location: Sams Walker Day Use Site
Meeting time: 7:00am
Leader: Cindy McCormack
Register: vas@vancouveraudubon.org
It’s migration time! I know this is an early meeting time, but it’s spring and the days are long! Let’s check out the activity along this easy trail through multiple types of habitat in the Columbia Gorge. If we have good weather, anyone interested in some additional birding, we can continue up the gorge after the walk to visit some additional hotspots.
Parking at Sams Walker Day Use area does require a recreation pass for parking (NW Forest Pass, Interagency (Annual, Senior, Military, Access, 4th Grade) Pass). If you do not have an annual or lifetime pass, day use passes may be purchased online at the USFS site. If you plan on visiting Beacon Rock State Park afterwards, a Discover Pass is required.
Sams Walker trail is mostly compacted soil and gravel trail with very little elevation change. Dress for the weather, bring water, sun protection, and a snack. Don’t forget your binoculars! If you plan on continuing to other birding sites with us, bring a lunch and/or snacks.
(add this event to your calendar)
Additional Bird Walks
Bird Walk at Captain William Clark Park (Washougal)
Date: Monday, May 11
Meeting time: 7:30am
Leaders: Sam Cable and Kiara Way
Register: Email Sam at scable@vancouveraudubon.org
Meeting Location: Parking lot NE of the intersection of S 32nd and Index St
Join us May 11th at Captain William Clark Park in Washougal. We will journey along the banks of the Columbia River beneath towering cottonwoods to witness the steady stream of birds that spring migration brings. We will be watching for the flash of Bullock’s Orioles, listening for calls of Western Wood-Pewees, and hoping for glimpses of whatever odd birds the river turns up (or perhaps whatever Caspian Terns up).
Meet us at the parking lot on the northeast side of the stairs and park restrooms near the intersection of S 32nd & Index St. The walk will cover a total distance of around 2 miles at a leisurely pace on pavement, gravel, and sand. The trail is mostly flat except for a ~10% grade as we traverse the levee heading into and out of the park. There is the potential for scopes to be useful when looking out over the river, but they are by no means a requirement.
Registration is encouraged so we can keep you up to date in the event of any changes or postponements such as those that may be caused by inclement weather.
Bird Walks are meant to be a casual, local morning of birding. They are a great time to enjoy birds with others, find new areas to visit, and/or work on bird identification by sight and sound or to practice your eBird app with help when needed. These walks are usually easy to join or depart at any time during the morning, no commitment to participate in the entire walk if you have limited time.
Field Trips:
Currently there are no scheduled field trips on our calendar. There are some in the works, so come back and visit in the next few days.
Please review the current VAS Guidelines and Waiver before registering for a trip.
Safety is a primary concern for Vancouver Audubon, and we ask anyone who is feeling unwell or who has had contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19* or other contagious health issues to stay at home until the risk for infection has passed. However, no public activity can be 100 percent safe. By participating, you accept the risk that you may come into contact with pathogens, including the COVID-19 virus.
For all field trips or other outdoor activities, Vancouver Audubon
requires:
Participants wishing to carpool must be fully vaccinated*.
Participants must be fully vaccinated to view through the leader’s or other participant’s spotting scope.
Field trip leaders have the option of requiring all participants be fully vaccinated for their trips.
*Symptoms include: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.
**Vancouver Audubon defines “fully vaccinated” as two full weeks beyond your final COVID-19 vaccine. Each year a new variant vaccine is available and is highly encouraged.
Field trip registration and cancellations:
All field trips, unless otherwise indicated, require pre-registration. This simply involves contacting the leader or person indicated on the announcements, and supplying email address and cellphone #. Vancouver Audubon expects all registrants to attend, so please contact the leader with any cancellations. Some trips may have a wait list, so please be considerate and contact the leader as soon as possible if you have to miss the trip for any reason.
Carpooling:
Vancouver Audubon wants to be sure we conserve as much as possible (including using fuel efficient vehicles), so any field trip that includes some driving will be a carpooling trip unless otherwise indicated. Carpooling is generally arranged at the designated meeting location, but can be arranged in advance for multiple pick-up locations.
Please remember to pay your driver! The recommended amount is $0.30/mile divided by the number of passengers in the vehicle.
Leaders should keep track of mileage and let participants know the total for the field trip.
